Our site uses cookies to improve your experiences of certain areas of the site and to allow the use of specific functionality like social media page sharing. You may delete and block all cookies from this site, but as a result parts of the site may not work as intended. By clicking any link of this page you are giving your consent.

Who's doing what?

Fitting smart meters, creating a new wireless communications grid and ensuring everyone gets the benefits. There are a lot of organisations, as well as new regulatory codes and standards. Here’s a brief breakdown of all the responsibilities.

The government sets the framework

The government has set the targets and established roles and responsibilities for the national rollout of smart meters. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is leading and monitoring the rollout. It has also set rules and standards to ensure that consumers are protected. These include rules around technical standards for the equipment and making sure the needs of vulnerable people are met.

Stages of the rollout

More information about the stages of the smart meter rollout can be found here:

FAQs

What is the national smart meter rollout?

By the end of 2020, around 53 million smart meters will be fitted in over 30 million premises (households and businesses) across Wales, Scotland and England. The programme is already underway. More than 8.6 million smart meters have now been installed. This is the biggest national infrastructure project in our lifetimes and it will enable a more energy efficient system for Great Britain.

Watch this short film to find out more about the national smart meter rollout.

Why is the smart meter rollout happening?

Most of the gas and electricity meters in our homes were designed decades ago. Right now, most of us in Great Britain have little idea how much energy we're using in our homes, where it's being used or what it's costing us. A third of us don't understand our energy bills.

Smart meters are part of the government's plan to bring our energy system up to date. By 2020, every home in Great Britain will be able to use smart meter technology to see exactly how much energy they're using, and what it's costing in pounds and pence.

In addition to these immediate benefits, the rollout also lays the foundation for Great Britain's move to a lower carbon economy and a secure energy supply.

So we'll be able to work out where we can save energy, cut our bills and do our bit for the environment.